Skip to main content

2022-2023 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Search Help

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Health Professions section in this catalog.

Website: gvsu.edu/ot

The occupational therapy (OT) traditional program offers two distinct academic paths to earning an entry-level Master of Science degree: a two-year traditional curriculum or a three-year hybrid curriculum. Both programs contain the same content, but the traditional program is intended for those students who can take 15 to 16 credits per semester and is primarily in-seat, while the hybrid program is intended for students who wish to maintain full-time employment throughout the curriculum and take a reduced credit load of seven to 11 credits per semester.

The occupational therapy graduate curriculum is built around the science of occupation as the core knowledge base, which is predicated upon the assumption that occupational therapists must operate from a common base of knowledge, skills, values, and philosophy. The curriculum is designed to produce professional practitioners and socially conscious citizens who appreciate the unique perspective of individuals and the cultures that influence them, value a democratic perspective of health care and social services delivery, and apply problem-solving, critical thinking, and lifelong learning toward meeting the needs of society.

Incoming first-year students interested in occupational therapy should begin by selecting an undergraduate major in their first year. Suggested majors include allied health sciences, biology, behavioral neuroscience, psychology, or sociology. Although these degrees provide a well-rounded background, any undergraduate major may be selected as long as the required occupational therapy prerequisite courses are completed along with the undergraduate degree before beginning the professional program. Once a selection of major has been made, students should work with the academic advisor from the College of Health Professions Student Services office at gvsu.edu/chpss to ensure that all major requirements are completed, along with the required prerequisite courses. All of these required prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade. Students may apply for admittance to the occupational therapy programs during the year in which they attain senior status. All students accepted into the occupational therapy programs must have a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning prior to the beginning of the master's program coursework.

Admission to the occupational therapy graduate programs is competitive. Maximum traditional class size is 40; the maximum class size for the hybrid program is 22. For the traditional program, the candidates are ranked on a total score basis and our top 40 candidates (minus early admits from Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Hope College, and deferrals) are sent a letter offering them seats in the program. Each alternate candidate is offered admission one-for-one in rank order if any of the original 40 candidates decline admission. For the hybrid program, candidates are also ranked on a total score basis and the top 22 candidates are sent a letter offering seats in the program. Each alternate candidate is offered admission one-for-one in rank order if any of the original 22 candidates decline admission. Admission decisions will be made in the first and second semesters of the calendar year.

All courses taken with the occupational therapy program must be taken for an earned letter grade, excluding fieldwork and research courses, unless otherwise specified by the occupational therapy department chair. Degree requirements include a final research project or thesis, three level I fieldwork assignments, and two full-time level II fieldwork assignments (480 hours each). The level II fieldwork assignments may be local or they may be in other areas of the country. It is important to note that level II fieldwork assignments must be completed within 24 months of completion of the didactic curriculum.

Candidate Information

By the application deadline, all candidates must have completed at least nine credit hours of the prerequisite requirements (the elective and statistics course do not count toward this total) and at least 50 hours of volunteer experience with a licensed OTR.

The application deadline is January 15 of the year you intend to start the program. There are two phases to the admission process.

Phase One

Includes a review of the following:

  • Prerequisite GPA
  • GPA in last 60 credit hours earned
  • Achievement Profile form: A minimum score of 8.0 is required
  • Three recommendation forms: these can be from a professor, employer, or an OT with whom you have volunteered.
  • Documentation of OT Experience form(s)

Phase Two

Includes the following:

  • An individual interview with a faculty member
  • A 90-minute writing exercise

All eligible candidates will be invited to take part in the interview and writing exercise. Phase two is typically conducted between late February and mid-March; all candidates are notified of the admission decisions by late March or early April.

Prerequisites

The Prerequisite GPA Calculation Form details the prerequisite course requirements for the program and allows you to document your progress.

If you have any questions regarding the prerequisites, you may contact the College of Health Professions (CHP) Student Services office at gvsu.edu/chpss. The OT program Admissions Committee must approve any prerequisite not posted on gvsu.edu/ot/guide-list.htm or gvsu.edu/studentapps/mtn. The OT program accepts prerequisite courses that have been taken at accredited community colleges and/or universities. All non-GVSU prerequisite courses not found in either of these guides should be first reviewed by a Student Services advisor; a member of the OT program Admissions Committee may be consulted to ensure the course meets admissions standards. It is better to ask questions and have the prerequisite course reviewed/approved prior to your enrollment in the course. This will avoid potential barriers in the admission process.

Some prerequisites might be available through Michigan Colleges Online at micollegesonline.org.

Course Equivalencies

Courses that fulfill GVSU's OT prerequisites for all Michigan four-year colleges/universities are located on the OT webpage under Prospective Students.

Course equivalencies for all Michigan four-year colleges/universities and community colleges can be found on the GVSU Registrar's webpage at gvsu.edu/registrar or by visiting gvsu.edu/studentapps/mtn.

To navigate the equivalency guide,

  • Select a college or university from the drop-down menu and click the submit button.
  • Press "CTRL" + "F" on your keyboard to search for a specific course.

Once you find the course you are looking for, the GVSU course will appear in the right column and the course equivalent from the selected school will appear in the left column.

GPA Requirements

At a minimum, each candidate must have at least a 3.0 GPA average in the last 60-hours of coursework completed prior to the application. Additionally, each candidate must have at least a 3.0 GPA average in the prerequisite coursework with no individual course grade below a C. If a student elects to repeat a course, the program will use the higher grade of the two courses in the prerequisite GPA calculation. The program does not consider courses that have been repeated more than once. The OT program Admissions Committee will not review applications with GPA scores lower than 3.0 in either category.

Five-year Prerequisite Requirement

Note: All prerequisite coursework must have been completed within five years of the year of application. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, and others with professional experience related to content addressed in pre-requisite courses, can request a waiver to the 5-year rule.

Competitive GPA

To be most competitive for admission, a candidate should have a prerequisite GPA in the 3.6 to 3.8 range and a last 60-hour GPA in the 3.6 to 3.8 range. It is very difficult to gain admission to the program with a last-60 hour GPA and prerequisite GPA of between 3.0 to 3.3.

Grades account for approximately 30 percent of the total consideration for admission to the program. The GVSU admissions process is wholistic and looks at multiple factors besides grades for admission.

Admission

A candidate can apply to either the traditional or hybrid program as their first choice during the OTCAS application process. Applicants are able to select the other program as their second choice.

Admission to either program within the occupational science and therapy department first requires completion of the Grand Valley State University graduate application, regardless of previous college attended. Candidates must complete all prerequisite courses and earn a bachelor's degree prior to entering the program. There will be no waivers or exceptions to this policy.

Completed applications should be submitted by January 15 for both traditional and hybrid programs. All application forms and supplemental application materials should be submitted through OTCAS. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that all application materials are verified within OTCAS by the January 15 deadline.

International student applicants should be able to communicate effectively in English and submit the following materials:

  • Original or certified original transcripts
  • Written TOEFL score minimum of 550; Minimum IELTS score of 6.5
  • Official transcript credential evaluation (e.g., WES, ECE)

The GVSU Admissions Office must receive the following documents via OTCAS for your application to be complete. Here is a checklist for applicants: Complete The Graduate School application online within OTCAS.

  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended through the fall semester prior to January 15 deadline via OTCAS. Students are responsible for sending official transcripts at the end of each semester for proof of completion of prerequisites and if admitted to the program, to demonstrate progress toward or completion of a bachelor's degree.
  • Submit two recommenders within OTCAS; One must be from an OTR and one must be from a professor or an employer if your degree is already completed.
  • Complete the Prerequisite GPA Calculation form and upload into OTCAS.
    • At least nine credit hours of prerequisite coursework must be completed at the time of application. The elective and the statistics course are not included in this requirement. Each individual prerequisite course must be completed with a grade of C or better.
    • GPA scores for the prerequisite courses and for the last 60 hours must both be at or above 3.0.
    • A plan for completion of prerequisites that are not fulfilled at the time of application must also be included in the Prerequisite GPA Calculation form.
  • Complete the Achievement Profile Form detailing student accomplishments that reflect the core values of the program and upload into OTCAS.
  • Complete the Documentation of OT Experience Form detailing minimum of 50 hours of experience under the supervision of an occupational therapist and upload into OTCAS. All hours must be included. A minimum of 50 hours must be completed for an application to be considered complete. Volunteer hours accrued outside the United States may only account for a maximum of 25 of the required 50 hours.

After the application deadline, the OT Admissions Committee will meet to review all completed applications. The top 60 for the traditional program and the top 40 for the hybrid program will be invited to the next step of the application process.

Next Step

  • An interview and an onsite writing sample.
  • Candidates are ranked on a total score basis.
  • Traditional Program: The top 40 candidates (minus early admits from Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Hope College, and deferrals) are sent a letter offering them seats in the program. Candidates are asked to provide a written reply within a two-week deadline. Remaining candidates are considered alternates for admission, ranked according to total score. Each alternate candidate is offered admission one-for-one in rank order if any of the original 40 candidates decline admission.
  • Hybrid Program: The top 22 candidates (minus early admits from Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, and Hope College) are sent a letter offering them seats in the program. They are asked to provide a written reply within a two-week deadline. Remaining candidates are considered alternates for admission, ranked according to total score. Each alternate candidate is offered admission one-for-one in rank order if any of the original 22 candidates decline admission.
  • Candidates who are not selected are informed once each cohort is filled and are welcome to request a meeting with a member of the OT Admissions Committee to discuss their application. This advising session is recorded and placed in the candidate's program file for future reference.
  • Candidates who are not selected may reapply the following year.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite Course Name

GVSU Course Equivalent

Anatomy and Physiology Sequence A

BMS 208 AND BMS 290 AND BMS 309

OR Anatomy and Physiology Sequence B

BMS 250 AND BMS 251

Kinesiology

MOV 300

Psychopathology

PSY 303

Lifespan Developmental Psychology

PSY 364

One of the following:

Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience

Neuropsychology

Neuroanatomy

EITHER:

PSY 330

OR PSY 431

OR BMS 427

Intro to Statistics

STA 215

One elective from psychology, sociology, anthropology, public health, or related field (200-level or higher).

Degree Requirements

Completion of 81 to 84 credits in the professional curriculum is required for the master's degree in occupational therapy. General graduate academic policies can be found in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog. General university degree requirements are in the Academic Regulations section of the catalog and the requirements for undergraduate majors are in the Academic Programs section.

Because the occupational therapy program prepares students to practice in a variety of settings, the department assumes the responsibility to assure the public that our students have met high standards of professional behavior, academic achievement, and consistent evidence of response to consumer needs. Criminal background checks and drug screens may be required prior to participation in certain clinical experiences. The cost of this evaluation is the responsibility of the student.

The program requires that students attain a minimum of 84-percent competency in each course. This requirement is reflected in each course syllabus across the professional curriculum.

* Level II fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of completion of the academic program.

Suggested Order of Coursework for Traditional Program

Year One

Fall Semester:

Winter Semester:

Spring/Summer Semester:

Year Two

Fall Semester:

Winter Semester:

Spring/Summer Semester:

Suggested Order of Coursework for Hybrid Delivery Model

Fall One

Winter One

Spring/Summer One

OST 502 (3 credits)

OST 503 (3 credits)

OST 555 (3 credits)

OST 551 (3 credits)

OST 505 (3 credits)

PNH 668 (3 credits)

OST 552 (3 credits)

OST 553 (2 credits)

STA 610 (3 credits)

OST 600 (2 credits)

TOTAL: 9 credits

TOTAL: 10 credits

TOTAL: 9 credits

Fall Two

Winter Two

Spring/Summer Two

OST 557 (2 credits)

OST 558 (3 credits)/OST 559 (2 credits)

OST 571 (3 credits)/OST 572 (3 credits)

OST 561/OST 562 (5 credits)

OST 564 (2 credits)

OST 573 (1 credit)

OST 563 (1 credit)

OST 565 (3 credits)

OST 693 (1 to 3 credits)/OST 695 (2 to 4 credits)

Total: 8 credits

Total: 10 credits

Total: 8-10 credits

Fall Three

Winter Three

Spring/Summer Three

OST 651/OST 652 (6 credits)

OST 660 (FW) (9 credits)

OST 661 (FW) (9 credits)

OST 653 (1 credit)

OST 693 (1 to 3)/OST 695 (2 to 4 credits)

Total: 9 credits

Total: 9 credits

Total: 10 credits

Total Credits: 81 to 84 credits

Occupational Therapy Traditional and Hybrid Programs

Research Sequence

Core Content Sequence

Occupational Science and Therapy Program Description

Click here for the program description.


If you are in need of assistance please submit any questions or comments.